We are Mediocre!!

I know it doesn't sound like anything to boast about, but here in Hawaii, the public schools are bragging about "Adequate Yearly Progress" (AYP). There is a big sign on the front fence of one of the elementary schools stating "We Made AYP!!!"

The celebration of mediocrity in schools is what has driven so many families here to private schools (ka-ching!) and homeschooling (not exactly free). It is sad, because according to the Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaii spends an average $9876 per student to be mediocre. Couple that with the latest info on the public schools from Honolulu Magazine, and you'll see that even on a survey of satisfaction and success, the surveyors had to grade on a curve in order to get the majority of schools to pass! The highest score was Momilani elementary at 89.40%, and thus that was an A+. The lowest score was a tie between Aiea Intermediate and Hale Kula with 63.68% each. Those were given grades of C+. For the record, in this house, an 89% is a B and a 63% is an F.

The quotes from school officials are truly insane, but I do encourage you to read the article. My favorite is this, "We've raised the bar, and the kids have met the expecatition."

Fun Post

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 7 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

(Hat tip to Erin)

"It's a Werewolf Love Story"

Spoken by Teen-A-Thon while describing a book she is hoping to read next. I am not joking.

My reply to her?

"You are so eighteen."

I love the "Interline"

We homeschoolers are nothing if not obsessive planners.

As Boy-A-Thon and Girl-A-Thon each continue to develop their interests, I am eyeing colleges. Yes, it long way off, but I know that the time will whip by. Further, one of the (5,472) reasons we homeschool is to have felxibility with tailoring their educations. (This relates to the title, I promise)

All of that is to say that by Googling, I came across an email for Dr. Mary Schweitzer. You may not recognize her name, but you probably do recall the news that soft tissue was found in a T Rex bone and there may be enough cell structure left to find DNA. Well, she's the one who found it. And guess what? I shot off an email to her to ask her to advise us for Boy-A-Thon and she said she'd do it!
I love the "Interline"

Thoughts

Well, I have had so many thoughts I wanted to blog about lately, and absolutely no time to blog. Now I have a little time, and all those thoughts have escaped me. I guess I am getting "old" like Palmtree Pundit ;-)

I did, however, peruse some blogs of other homeschool moms, and saw this thought about worship that I wholeheartedly agree with. Here is an excerpt:

Parents, don't think that the complaints and fooliness(sic)of your own hearts aren't imitated by your children. Instead we should be teaching them the importance of worship, in all things, with our hearts and minds...as well as our emotions. It's an attitude of the heart.

Maybe some day my thoughts and time to share them will eventually collide!

Well Whaddayaknow?

My eyes actually are grey.

Your Eyes Should Be Gray

Your eyes reflect: Intensity and drive What's hidden behind your eyes: A sensitive soul

What Color Should Your Eyes Be?

Blogging Purpose?

I am trying to figure out just what the point of my blogging is. Originally I did this anonymously, hoping to "let it rip" with my thoughts, feelings, opinions. Then I found that I wasn't nearly as crass as I thought I'd be, so I "outed" myself.

However, there have been many times that I'd like to get my thoughts written down, and haven't because I would hate to be misunderstood by those who know me and read this blog.

In the past, I was an avid writer. I have so many stories. Many of them about life in general, and some about things I am learning along the way. But since blogging, my "real" writing has been non-existent. The problem is that blogging just doesn't "feed the bulldog" as my friend Kathy would say.
I guess I was hoping for more interaction? And though I do appreciate any interaction, the reality is that it primarily occurs when I change the look of the blog. Nothing against that, it's just that the bulldog needs something a bit more substantial. I suppose that is why I haven't really blogged a whole lot in general, and recently in particular.

Again, I am just rambling and writing out thoughts as they come....

Mood Adjustment

I was not really looking forward to this day. It is one in a series where I am doing my regular jobs with the added joy of unravelling a big mess. Not only is it a big mess, but it is someone else's mess. Oooh, my favorite.
Yesterday was extra crispy, as I had all my regular respnsibilities, plus the unraveling gig, and I got to call Roto-Rooter! And joy of joys, the cleanout is in our garage. (It was a carport,so I guess that made sense to the architect??) Don't be jealous yet, because I got to clean up sewage in the garage. But it did not end there. No sirree. At about 10PM (still up unraveling the other mess) I discovered my refrigerator stopped working. So *today*, I am doing all my regular jobs, plus hunting down a refrigerator repairman. (We bought the service plan via Sears when we bought the fridge but they can't make it til Saturday. I don't think my yogurt, milk, and porkchops will make it til then, do you?)

So I was going to complain on this post (no, this is not me complaining).

Then I went outside and saw a gorgeous day, 3 healthy kids, a lovely home, and thought the better of it!

Parenting Challenges

Girl-a-thon recently received an email chain letter from a member of her Girl Scout Troop. It was a threatening letter that promised death and eyeball removal--with a fork, at the hands of none other than Mickey Mouse--for those who didn't pass it along. Of course she forwarded it to all her closest friends to spare them, or "not to chance it" as she wrote.

Thankfully, one of the forwardees showed the email to her mother who made me aware of it. Now, we have already discussed appropriate use of email and such in the A-thon house, so I was pretty peeved. Dad-a-thon handled it much more calmly than I would have. Girl-a-thon has sent an email apology to all of her friends, and has informed them of her being "offline" for the next month.

The challenge, though is what to do about the girl who sent the email? Do we let her parents--who are new to us--know?

Any adivce on how to handle this would be greatly appreciated.

New Look

After trying to come up with the time to sit and learn how to truly customize my blog, I have resorted to the cheap and easy fix: I used a gorgeous picture of the sunset. Believe it or not this was just a regular day here when the sun went down. Every now and then I am outside at the right time to see such beauty. When I am, I try to capture it forever. Hope you like the look.

Preservation and Progress

Over on Molokai, people are dealing with the problems that can come from getting what you want. (Or from getting what you've been begging for.) Our pastor has often said, "You cannot just want what you want. You must want also what your wants lead to."

For several years, folks on Molokai have been playing the inevitable tug of war that comes with rural living: Preservation vs. Progress. It's tough in this day to maintain a simple life. (Especially when "simple" includes, a car--with gas, TV, phone service, and utilities at the flip of a switch or turn of a knob. The problem with those benefits of modern life, is that they require people to live in community. Most folks who have sought out a ruggedly rural lifestyle are more the isolationist types. And therein lies the problem.

Now the folks on Molokai are in deep kim chee. The biggest source of employment has quit playing tug of war. In fact, they are taking the rope and going home. (I can't blame them much. It's their rope, and they even made sandwiches, brought drinks for everyone and gave them shade.)

O'Fukunaga

I guess that's what you get when you are Irish/Japanese!

A friend was in the Irish spirit today. As we were both judging a homeschool speech competition we had name tags on. I laughed right out loud at hers: Cathy O'Fukunaga. (Normally She is Cathy Fukunaga.)

The Perv 'Stache

It is gone...finally.

Boy-a-thon dived into puberty this year. It seems that in the fall I had a boy and this spring I am watching a young man emerge. It's a bit disoncerting. Where once was a smooth sweet face is now hair--yes, hair! Tonight Dad-a-thon helped Boy-a-thon with his first shave. It had to be done, because, well, he had that light moustache that looks like a pervert. Hence the name "perv 'stache". (OOps! There goes my chance at mom of the year.) Boy-a-thon didn't much care for the name, so he was all for the big shave. Yes, words are powerful ;-)

Yet again, I find myself thinking that this is my favorite stage. Go figure, adolescence actually has its good parts, too. I do love being with my kids and watching them grow and mature. What a treat.

If Only That Were True

You Are a Colon

You are very orderly and fact driven. You aren't concerned much with theories or dreams... only what's true or untrue. You are brilliant and incredibly learned. Anything you know is well researched. You like to make lists and sort through things step by step. You aren't subject to whim or emotions. Your friends see you as a constant source of knowledge and advice. (But they are a little sick of you being right all of the time!) You excel in: Leadership positions You get along best with: The Semi-Colon

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

(Hat tip: PalmtreePundit)

Addiction

If I had one thing that I would like to remove from this world, addiction would be it. I have a had a front row seat at the trainwreck of addiction. It is just gut-wrenching. The singularly most painful thing for loved ones to endure. With that experience, learning that it is happening to others pains my heart. Please take a moment to pray for those who are gripped by addiction. BUT PLEASE pray for those who are left to live in the wake of it.

Jeanne and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Ok, maybe I'm being a bit overdramatic, but today...well... it su**ed(the opposite of blew).

I had a very long, whiny post but I deleted it. (Believe me, that is indicative of much growth and maturity.) The bottom line is this: the least sucky part of my day is that I broke my toe.
A real assessment of this day in the grand scheme of life--I'm pretty darn blessed.

'Nuff said.

"Home" School

Today we have dermatologist appointments for the whole gang. (Living so close to the equator, we see the dermatologist as part of our annual physicals. ) With the kids having been gone for a week, I am anxious to get back on track with schooling. That means school on the road. As I grab the Logic DVDs for Boy-a-thon to watch, and rip the CD of Girl-a-thon's history book and put it on her iPod, I am struck by how much technology makes my life hum. We will actually be able to do our full day's work even though we will spend 2 hours away from home. What techno-goodies make your life hum?

Is this cool, or what?

The most amazing research is going to be done within Army hospitals on soldiers with lost limbs. Limb regeneration. Can you even imagine being able to regenerate a lost lomb? And no, this isn't from embryonic stem cells. It's from bovine bladder cells. Yep. Pig bladders. No worries--bovine tissues have been used in human surgeries for years and with a great track record. Check out this video (click on the video titled "Powder Mends Severed Finger").

There's also a great--but long--article here. An excerpt:

A few days after Lee Spievack canceled his appointment with the hand surgeon,
he received a package from his older brother containing a vial of powder that
looked like Kraft Parmesan cheese. His brother instructed him to sprinkle it on
his finger every other day until the powder was gone. A few days
went by, and Spievack could see something was happening. There was skin growing,
and tissue on the inside, too. His fingertip grew back. He doesn't much
think about his finger anymore, except when he clips his nails. He usually cuts
them once a week, but the new nail has to be clipped every two days.

What I Did on My Winter Vacation

All but Teen-A-Thon and I have been skiing in Utah for the past week. This has given me some much appreciated ALONE TIME. (That along with sleep are the only things I miss from the BK (Before Kids) life. So, not wanting to waste a grand opportunity, I have been having a very pleasant week. It has taken me 38 years, but I believe I have finally learned to balance time between stuff I should do and stuff I want to do. So! Here's what I've been up to:

1. Thanking God for a healthy family.
2. Volunteering at our church's school's open house. At lunch afterward, I realized that I cannot oder food without my husband. This, is a good thing, if you ask me! I rarely go out to eat without him, and I pretty much love all food. So he orders and I eat half of his food :-)
3. Enjoying one-on-one time with Teen-A-Thon as she prepares for delivery and placing her baby with a wonderful family.
4. Shopping for bedding, jeans that fit, and a pasta attachment for the KitchenAid. (AKA: Letting Teen-A-Thon have time alone at the house with her friend who moved back.)
5. Grading school work from the previous week, getting assignment sheets ready for the Kids-A-Thon return.
6. Having a long overdue lunch with a dear friend.
7. Beginning a new Latin curriculum--gotta stay ahead of the students!
8. Having a long overdue dinner with another great friend.
9. Getting a massage
10. Touring Doris Duke's home, Shangri-La, with a dear friend.
11. Pilates. Elliptical.
12. Waxing.
13. Seeing the movie Juno with a great friend--You really have to see that movie.
14. Shampooing living room carpet, Girl-A-Thon's rug, and desk chair. (It really is gross that that is all in there!)
15. Reviewing school schedule for next year.
16. Preparing to form an Omnibus I hui with some of the most fantastic women you could ever hope to know.

Wow, am I blessed in the friend department, or what?

The list is not exhaustive, but as I see it there, it probably does lean a little heavily to the want to do side of life. But I'm okay with that. I know that when my home is again full, that list leans plenty far the other way.

I've also learned or remembered a few things this week:

• I cannot order food out without my husband.
• My entire life revolves around my husband and children--this is a GOOD thing, by the way.
• God has given me a life rich in friendships, full of good work, and blessed beyond measure.

So, any young moms who are at times overwhelmed, know that it is truly a season. We do get our alone time back--in spurts. And I wouldn't change a thing. Before I know it, five or six years will have blipped by, and I will have more alone time than I know what to do with!

If You Can't Say Something Nice...

That's basically why posting has been non-existent for a while. Believe me, I have had plenty to say, just not much organization or order to it. Add to that the fact that I am greatly upset by the topics on my mind, and well...I just don't have much nice to say.

Thankfully, Tricia over at The Well Drained Mind said it for me. And she was very nice about it.

I must agree that I too love my "homeschooling coccoon" and am often surprised by the very things that were a normal part of my own childhood. In fact, unless jolted back to remembering them, I carry on as if none of it ever happened.

In the life my husband and I have made, children matter greatly. We do all we can to rear them in a way that honors and glorifies God. That's why that "jolting back" gets me so very confused and dumbfounded. I can't believe people don't know better. And the truth is, they do know better. If knowledge and information were all that we needed to do the right thing, no one would ever have to be reminded not to drink and drive. No, knowledge won't do it. We need a Savior. And in His mercy, God has provided all that we need. His grace is sufficient--even for witnessing the mistreatment of children.